Williamson's hit lifts Titans

FULLERTON – For seven solid innings, Clay Williamson sat idly —- coldly — on the Cal State Fullerton bench just waiting for an opportunity to swing the bat he'd been swinging so well in practice.

Meanwhile, on the field, CSF and UC Davis were locked in the kind of game where a single at bat could, and would, likely determine the outcome.

That crucial at bat — in the bottom of the eighth, with the bases loaded, one out, and the Titans facing a 4-3 deficit — went to a freshman who, to that point, had only seven at bats (and just one hit) to his name.

With the weight of a disappointing series-opening loss hanging over the plate, Williamson came through with the biggest hit of the evening, a go-ahead two-run single that propelled CSF to a 5-4 Big West victory on Thursday night at Goodwin Field.

"I was ready," Williamson said. "Coach told me, 'You're hitting, don't worry about taking a strike.' I had some butterflies going, but that just means you're ready."

Williamson's eighth plate appearance of the season unfolded: ball, foul ball, extended pause for pinch-runner Austin Diemer to enter the game, then screaming line drive right back up the middle that plated two as the Titans (19-10, 3-1) reclaimed the lead it had relinquished in the top half of the inning.

"He's been hitting the ball well in practice recently," CSF coach Rick Vanderhook said. "Just yesterday he had some good at-bats off live pitching. Every time he's pinch-hit this season it's been good. He just wants the chance."

After UC Davis (11-14, 0-1) scratched across the tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the eighth, center fielder Michael Lorenzen began the home half of the inning with a double to right field.

It was just the third time the Titans' leadoff hitter reached base. Following a strikeout, Ivory Thomas cut the deficit in half with an RBI single, then advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Anthony Hutting — CSF's first pinch hitter of the inning — then put runners on the corners with a single. After a walk loaded the bases, Williamson came through with the Titans' 10th, and most important, hit of the game.

"Everyone was getting hits that inning," Williamson said. "Guys put together hits before me and I just fell in."